Why? Because behind every success story, there are stories of failure. We all experience moments of failure in our profession as financial advisors, and there is no greater joy for me than helping OTHERS overcome their challenges to become top producers. The Rise to the Top Sales Symposium is all…

Despite the Trump administration's anti-regulatory stance, individual agencies are developing plans to introduce a raft of regulations that will affect advisors in the year ahead, writes columnist Mark Schoeff Jr. He runs through the list of regulations advisors should expect. InvestmentNews (tiered subscription model)

The long-running rally in the equity markets has boosted portfolios but also increased investors' and advisors' vulnerability, writes Gary Manguso of FTJ FundChoice. He offers four steps to prepare clients for an eventual downturn in the markets, beginning with insisting on a meeting. InvestmentNews (tiered subscription model)

When people ask me what it’s like to be a financial advisor, I tell them that I’m always on, i.e., selling. If you don’t like selling things, then you should seriously reconsider this as a profession. Most of the time, your company will not be funneling you leads, and it’s…

President Donald Trump's agenda of rolling back regulations is having little influence on state insurance regulators, who are "moving ahead pretty aggressively on everything," said Howard Mills of Deloitte. Among the major issues for state regulators are consumer protection, cybersecurity and the use of big data, Mills said. InsuranceNewsNet online

Two measures introduced in the House are intended to make annuities more accessible and modernize how retirement statements are provided. The Increasing Access to a Secure Retirement Act would help employers offer annuity options in their retirement plans, while the Receiving Electronic Statements to Improve Retiree Earnings Act is aimed…

House negotiators are fighting to keep a measure to kill the Labor Department's fiduciary rule in an interim spending bill needed to keep the US government running after Jan. 19. The House included the rider in its version of the bill, but final language will be decided through negotiations between…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has explained rules, scheduled to take effect Feb. 5, that prevent financial exploitation of seniors. One provision authorizes FINRA members to temporarily hold up disbursement of funds or securities from accounts "where there is a reasonable belief of financial exploitation of these customers." ThinkAdvisor (free…

Under the new tax law, the decision to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can no longer be reversed after Dec. 31, writes columnist Paul Brandus. He advises people who may be affected by this to talk to their advisor immediately. MarketWatch (12/27)

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has proposed a number of changes and technology improvements for 2018. The changes include more financial transparency, overhauling restrictions on registered individuals' outside business activities and setting new examination fees, although there are no plans to increase membership fees. ThinkAdvisor (free registration)